Metal Decontamination From Chemically Modified Rice Husk Film

Finely grinded rice husk (RH) has been treated with different alkalis (NaOH, KOH, Na2CO3 and KCO3) and a film was casted from obtained semi liquid product. The effect of various alkalis on physical properties like water absorption, swelling behavior, bulk density husk has been investigated. The morphology and chemical structure were studied by Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Optical microscopy and thermogravimetry (TG) techniques. The results revealed the formation of homogenous film with partial crystalline nature with better thermal stability than RH and approx half bulk density. Further, the developed film was found suitable for metal (Cu(II) and As (III) decontamination from prepared aqueous sample upto 90 and 93 % with removal capacity 2gm per sq cm.